‘Prog-rock oddballs’ Lint pull double duty this month, taking part in RAMP’s coverband showcase and releasing their own EP

September might mean back to school for some, but for the Calgary music scene, it’s the season of CD releases and sweet shows. Now, take out your notebooks.
    First off are prog-rock oddballs Lint, who are releasing their self-titled EP with a show on September 7 at Broken City. Check out their song, “I am the Internet,” at www.myspace.com/lintlintlint. It’s on the EP and it’s pretty wild.
    The instrumental five-piece are also taking part in RAMP’s one-year anniversary show September 6 at Broken City. Local bands Woodpigeon, The Consonant C, The Lonely Hunters, Aaron Booth, Gutterawl, The Ex-Boyfriends and Martin Fulton Overdrive are all covering other local bands’ songs. It’s also the birthday of Lint’s Devon and Alex. Oy vey!
    For proof of how tightly knit this city’s scene is, Lint drummer Matt Doherty is also in another band you might have heard of — Axis of Conversation. They’re releasing their debut full-length, Delusions of Safety, with a show on September 15 at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer. Beija Flor and Jane Vain and The Dark Matter will open.
    Speaking of Jane Vain, her and her band of cronies are also playing on September 6 at the Liberty Lounge with Mother Mother. Just a heads up.
    Sudden Infant Dance Syndrome are joining in on the September fun, too. They released their full-length CD, 2 Many Babes, with an all-ages show at EMMEDIA on September 1. That show was also the send-off for Calgary’s The Pants Situation and The Draft Dodgers. Both groups will be missed. SIDS are playing their licensed CD release on September 29 at The Marquee Room, where they’ll be joined by one of Edmonton’s best bands, The Wet Secrets.
    On September 9, Dan Vacon of The Dudes and Dojo Workhorse and Chris Vail of Vailhalen (among other groups) will play a set of duelling songs and duets at Bungalow. Admission to that one is free. Oh, and they might spend their time touring the world these days, but The Dudes will play a Calgary show at The Warehouse on September 22. Cool, Dudes.
    Dance rock trio Secret Broadcast have now dropped their debut EP Plastic Fantastic, which is available for purchase at Megatunes, online or at their shows. See them on September 22 at The Palomino.
    The Fast Romantics are also on the bill for that Palomino show, and they might just be my new favourite local band. Their song “Spooning the Gorilla” coincidentally (or maybe not) reminds me of Spoon, although there are some definite hints of Brit-pop in their sound. They’re also playing at The Back Alley on September 20, and you can check out their tunes at www.myspace.com/fastromantics.
    The Black Dots are following up their spot opening for Nashville Pussy at Snatch last Sunday with the release of their new disc, Planet Of The Idiots. It’s available for $10 at Megatunes. As drummer and singer Ribsy says, “If I was in it for the cash, I'd have quit years ago!”
    Drunken Public Love, contenders for the dumbest/funniest Calgary band name, have now added fourth member Terry Cahoon on bass. They have no shows scheduled for September as of press time, but check out their Myspace for some surprisingly sober, twangy tunes.
    Finally, local rhymesayers Ricca Razor Sharp and The Mantrakid are organizing a festival called I Heart Alberta Rap. One dozen hip hop artists representing Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge and St. Albert will be performing in two shows at the Distillery on September 14 and 15, along with an all-ages show at Fameless on the afternoon of September 15.
    The deadly duo has also put together a compilation CD (in a fancy tin), featuring every artist at the festival. It’s $20, but the insert booklet serves as your festival pass. For more info, check out iheartalbertarap.com, dogg.
    If you’re a local artist doing something interesting and want to have it written about, drop me a line at either alvy411@hotmail.com or myspace.com/alvy411. A klog is mir!